India A defeated Sri Lanka A by 8 wickets in the final of the tri-series, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivering a match-winning all-round display. The victory came with 10 overs to spare, as India A chased down a modest target of 183 with ease.
Sooryavanshi Shines with Ball and Bat
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the star of the match, first picking up 3 wickets for 28 runs in his 8 overs to help restrict Sri Lanka A to 182 for 9 in 50 overs. He then scored an unbeaten 68 off 72 balls, anchoring the chase alongside opener Rohan Kunnummal, who made 55. The duo added 112 runs for the second wicket to take India A close to victory.
Sri Lanka A's Innings Stalls
Sri Lanka A won the toss and elected to bat, but their innings never gained momentum. Only two batsmen crossed 30: opener Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 42 off 68 balls, and captain Charith Asalanka made 38 off 55. The rest of the batting lineup struggled against disciplined Indian bowling, with spinners and pacers sharing wickets. Besides Sooryavanshi, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar took 2 for 35, and pacer Arshdeep Singh claimed 2 for 41.
Commanding Chase by India A
India A's chase was clinical. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohan Kunnummal added 38 runs in 8.2 overs before Jaiswal fell for 17. Sooryavanshi then joined Kunnummal, and the pair dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers. Kunnummal hit seven fours in his 62-ball innings, while Sooryavanshi struck eight boundaries and a six. India A reached 183 for 2 in 40 overs, with Sooryavanshi hitting the winning runs.
Tri-Series Dominance
India A remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning all three league matches and the final. Their consistent performance highlighted the depth of talent in Indian cricket. The tri-series also featured Nepal A, who were eliminated after losing all their matches.
Quotes and Reactions
India A captain Sanju Samson praised the team's effort, saying, "The bowlers set it up beautifully, and Vaibhav's all-round show was exceptional. It's a great win for us." Sri Lanka A captain Charith Asalanka admitted, "We were 30-40 runs short, and our bowlers couldn't contain them. Credit to India A for playing superb cricket."
Looking Ahead
This victory serves as a confidence booster for India A ahead of their upcoming series. Sooryavanshi's performance has put him in contention for higher honors, with selectors likely to keep an eye on his progress. For Sri Lanka A, the focus will be on addressing batting frailties and building partnerships.
